Legislation could allow voters to register

Thursday

The next scheduled election in the Town of Barnstable is the presidential primary set for March, but likely to move to February.

The next scheduled election in the Town of Barnstable is the presidential primary set for March, but likely to move to February.

The town council will take up a $30,000 request to conduct that election.

Town Clerk Linda Hutchenrider is hopeful for the funding, but also for a broader piece of state legislation to allow election-day registration.

Hutchenrider said that she knows of two incidents during last week's town election where voters could not vote because they had been dropped from the list.

One individual was understanding, the other was informed that a provisional ballot, which would be counted only in the event of a tie, could be completed.

In both cases, the individuals hadn't voted in Barnstable for more than four years, nor had they completed the annual Town census, which would have kept them active.

Once dropped, individuals must be turned away because there is no mechanism to get them back on the voter rolls.

Hutchenrider said that while an election-day registration system will result in more work for poll workers, it would allow everyone who wants to vote the opportunity to do so.

Such issues are less common in local elections because of the low turnout, but with the increased participation in presidential election years it becomes more of a problem.

Voter registration typically increases in presidential election years, beginning with the primary in March and continuing through to the November general election.

Legislation has been filed in the state House of Representative (H.646) that would allow election-day registration.

Another election change Hutchenrider would like to see is allowing poll workers to vote absentee. She said that it's not uncommon for those working the polls not to vote for lack of opportunity on election day.

The current absentee ballot law does not allow people who are in town on election day to use that system.

Published 11/16/07

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